A recent report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reveals that falling birth rates around the world are linked to a lack of choice rather than a lack of desire for children. The study highlights several key barriers that people face when trying to start families, including financial struggles, job insecurity, and gender inequality.
The report aims to challenge the narrative that women are choosing not to have children because they don’t want them. Instead, it suggests that many individuals are unable to create the families they desire due to various obstacles. UNFPA’s executive director, Natalia Kanem, emphasized that the real issue is the lack of options available to people. She pointed out that solutions include providing paid family leave, affordable fertility care, and support from partners.
Polling conducted by YouGov across 14 countries, which account for over a third of the global population, found that nearly half of these nations have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman. The survey revealed that many people struggle to have the number of children they want, even if that number is zero. Alarmingly, 20% of respondents reported feeling pressured to have children they did not want, and one in three experienced an unintended pregnancy.
Economic factors emerged as significant barriers to family planning. More than half of those surveyed cited financial limitations as a key issue, with 39% identifying it as the top concern. Others pointed to unemployment, job security, and high housing costs as additional hurdles. Furthermore, over 20% of respondents expressed worries about climate change and social instability as reasons for delaying or avoiding parenthood.
In terms of gender roles, the report indicated that many women feel their partners do not contribute equally to household responsibilities. About 11% of people said their partner would not share the load at home, and 14% mentioned the lack of a suitable partner as a barrier to having children.
Although Canada was not included in the UNFPA survey, similar trends have been observed in the country. An Angus Reid survey found that over half of potential parents in Canada have postponed having children due to rising living costs. Concerns about job security and childcare expenses were major factors in these decisions.
The UNFPA report warns against “coercive” measures to increase birth rates, such as financial incentives or fertility targets. While these might offer short-term relief, they could push individuals into parenthood before they are ready. Instead, the report calls for long-term solutions that empower families to make their own choices about childbearing, such as affordable housing and comprehensive reproductive health services.
Overall, the findings suggest a pressing need for societal changes that support family planning and address the barriers that many people face in realizing their reproductive goals.